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New Hampshire Debates
Jan. 6th, 2008 12:31 amI was using a hand mirror earlier. I set it down on the floor, and Flaster came over to inspect it. He spent a bit peering intently at the Qat in the mirror, then pawed it to one side, ignored it, and began sniffing busily at the floor where it had lain. He repeated this several times. I'm fairly sure he experienced the reflection as being behind the mirror, and isn't sure why there was just bare floor beneath it. Now he's trying to flip it over.
*****
So, tonight I made tofu tacos (amazingly good) and watched the New Hampshire debate. It's the first actual debate that I've seen in several elections. They set them all in a circle, the moderator asked a question, and away they went discussing it. It's a sharp contrast to the usual 'press conference' format, and generates much more useful information about the candidates.
Elephant Party:
Giuliani can almost feel his hands on the briefcase with the launch codes. It's so close. It calls out to him. It wants to be opened, to share its secrets with him. It promises to swing wide the gates of Hell against those people who hurt his city.
Ron Paul came across more as crotchety and peevish than anything else. I've seen him so much better. To be fair, the flow of the debate never came around to his strong issues, but still, it wasn't a good showing by any means.
Something was wrong with Huckabee (besides being an unprincipled scoundrel). I have no idea what, but his mind was elsewhere at times.
None of the other Republicans seem to like Romney. It seems personal. Nobody passed up a chance to take a shot at him. He handled himself well, though, and came off looking better than they did.
Fred Thompson has pretty much accepted that he's going to lose, I think. Perversely, that's made him a much better debater. Suddenly he's relaxed and having a good time.
McCain seemed uncomfortable with the format. He kept trying to fall back on his talking points and prepared jokes, and in consequence got his ass handed to him by Fred Thompson when the talk turned to illegal immigration. I voted for McCain in 2000. The old John McCain was plain-spoken and forthright, and would not try to dodge a question. This isn't him.
Donkey Party:
Holy shit, Edwards! @.@ The man was absolutely breathing fire against corruption and incompetence. I've never seen him like that. If he were like that every day, he'd be the clear frontrunner.
Bill Richardson could easily support himself as a standup comic. He seemed the most relaxed and certain of himself. He's almost certainly going to be asked to run as VP, whoever wins. He seems to have the natural instinct of a peacemaker, constantly trying to find common ground with his opponents, and calling for compromise in government. I'd never really given much attention to him before, but he'd not make a bad President.
Obama's demeanour reminded me more of a news anchor than anything. It's possible to be too professional.
Clinton got better as the night went along, but was never very strong. The air is slowly leaking out of her campaign, and she really doesn't have much of an idea how to pump it back up.
Fred Thompson and Bill Richardson have a career in talk shows waiting, if they get tired of politics.
*****
So, tonight I made tofu tacos (amazingly good) and watched the New Hampshire debate. It's the first actual debate that I've seen in several elections. They set them all in a circle, the moderator asked a question, and away they went discussing it. It's a sharp contrast to the usual 'press conference' format, and generates much more useful information about the candidates.
Elephant Party:
Giuliani can almost feel his hands on the briefcase with the launch codes. It's so close. It calls out to him. It wants to be opened, to share its secrets with him. It promises to swing wide the gates of Hell against those people who hurt his city.
Ron Paul came across more as crotchety and peevish than anything else. I've seen him so much better. To be fair, the flow of the debate never came around to his strong issues, but still, it wasn't a good showing by any means.
Something was wrong with Huckabee (besides being an unprincipled scoundrel). I have no idea what, but his mind was elsewhere at times.
None of the other Republicans seem to like Romney. It seems personal. Nobody passed up a chance to take a shot at him. He handled himself well, though, and came off looking better than they did.
Fred Thompson has pretty much accepted that he's going to lose, I think. Perversely, that's made him a much better debater. Suddenly he's relaxed and having a good time.
McCain seemed uncomfortable with the format. He kept trying to fall back on his talking points and prepared jokes, and in consequence got his ass handed to him by Fred Thompson when the talk turned to illegal immigration. I voted for McCain in 2000. The old John McCain was plain-spoken and forthright, and would not try to dodge a question. This isn't him.
Donkey Party:
Holy shit, Edwards! @.@ The man was absolutely breathing fire against corruption and incompetence. I've never seen him like that. If he were like that every day, he'd be the clear frontrunner.
Bill Richardson could easily support himself as a standup comic. He seemed the most relaxed and certain of himself. He's almost certainly going to be asked to run as VP, whoever wins. He seems to have the natural instinct of a peacemaker, constantly trying to find common ground with his opponents, and calling for compromise in government. I'd never really given much attention to him before, but he'd not make a bad President.
Obama's demeanour reminded me more of a news anchor than anything. It's possible to be too professional.
Clinton got better as the night went along, but was never very strong. The air is slowly leaking out of her campaign, and she really doesn't have much of an idea how to pump it back up.
Fred Thompson and Bill Richardson have a career in talk shows waiting, if they get tired of politics.
